Adjustable air diffuser



Nov. 3, 1964 1.. ca. DAYUS ADJUSTABLE AIR DIFFUSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1962 Inventor LLOYD G. DAYUS Nov. 3, 1964 L. G. DAYUS 3,155,027

ADJUSTABLE AIR DIFFUSER Filed Nov. 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor LLOYD s. DAYUS by: WfW- United States Patent 3,155,t 27 ADJUSTABLE Am DIFFUSER Lloyd G. Dayus, 7 Hunthill Court, lslington, Ontario, Canada Filed Nov. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 240,907 8 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates to improvements in adjustable air diffusers.

A number of different types of air diffusers have previously been proposed, such types in general incorporated means therein of adjusting the diffused pattern of the air flowing therethrough. In attempting to provide an acceptable variation in the air pattern many such prior devices have resorted to complicated linkage methods which besides being expensive to manufacture are often so cumbersome as to unduly restrict the fiow of air through the diffuser.

It has been found by the practice of the present invention that the diffused air pattern may be conveniently adjusted and that the means for so adjusting the pattern will not unnecessarily restrict the flow of air through the diffuser.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable air diffuser which may be inexpensively manufactured and yet have improved efficiency of operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable air diffuser which may be made in a variety of capacities and by utilizing a number of common parts may be done so economically.

The invention seeks to accomplish these and other objects and features such as will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts by the provision of an air confining channel having a suitable air directing member therein and using a screw thread type motion to effect adjustment of said member to alter the pattern of air flow through said diffuser.

In the drawings:

, FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an air diffuser shown together with further air controlling and directing means whereby the full advantages of the present diffuser may be realised;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an air pattern, such as may be achieved by use of the present invention; and,

FIGURE 4 is another diagrammatic representation of an air pattern such as may be obtained by use of the present invention.

Having reference to FIGURE 1, an adjustable air diffuser indicated genera ly as 11 is illustrated and comprises an outer air confining member 12 and an inner air confining member 13, each being of a generally conical configuration and in axial alignment one with the other. Inner member 13 is held centrally within outer member 12 by a frame indicated generally as 14.

Frame 14 comprises three identical spokes 15 joined at a center position. The method of joining spokes 15 is to provide accurately shaped ends 16 having interlocking edges such as tongues 17 and grooves 18. Ends 16 are prevented from sliding disengagement of the interlocking ends by upsetting the material along the seam 19 such as by metal staking 20.

A hollow tube 21 is positioned through the hole formed by ends 16 the top 22 of tube 21 being peened over to rigidify ends 16 and to secure tube 21 in place. As an aid in securing tube 21 a supporting ring 23 is positioned on tube 21 abutting a shoulder thereon, ring 23 thus securing ends 16 from lateral movement on tube 21.

3,l55,fi2? Patented Nov. 3, 1964 Each spoke 15 is provided with a shoulder 24 along the exterior edge which offers means of aligning and holding a retaining finger 25 which in the present embodiment is preferably rivetted by rivet 26 to spoke 15. Fingers 25 are removably inserted within slots 27 formed in outer member 12, one such slot 27 being provided with spring 28 having retaining pin 29 thereon, pin 29 normally projecting through outer member 12 and into hole 30 in finger 25 to secure same from withdrawal and thus securing outer member 12 to frame 14.

An angle 31 is secured to each spoke 15 intermediate of the length, and projecting downwardly, is secured at the lower end to inner member 13 thus securing same to frame 14 in the aforementioned concentric alignment with outer member 12.

A centrally located opening 32 in inner member 13 allows passage of air therethrough and also accommodates the lower extension of tube 21. An air directing bell 33 positioned concentric with and below opening 32, has a generally conical configuration and is secured to a lower end of tube 21 by any convenient means, the bell 33 aiding in diffusing air passing through opening 32.

Each spoke 15 terminates at its outer end in a circumferentially disposed segment 34 which defines an oblique slot 35 therein. .Slots 35 are at an angle to the axis of diffuser 11 the difference between the upper and lower limits of said slots 35 being the total adjustment height of the device.

The segments 34 are adjustably secured to supports 36 by means of screw 37 passing through slot 35. As an aid in maintaining free movement of screw 37 within slot 35, a pair of washers 38 and 39 are provided to either side of segment 34 to prevent direct material contact between screw 37 on support 36 and segment 34. To maintain some friction of screw 37 within slot 35 a spring washer 40 is mounted on screw 37 under nut 41.

Each support 36 is bent diagonally across its width and projecting downwardly supports at the lower end thereof an air directing member 42 which has a generally conical configuration, and being provided with opening 43 substantially centrally thereof. A downwardly projecting lip 44 is formed about opening 43, and exterior edge 45 is rolled back as illustrated to finish and stiffen this edge.

From the foregoing it will be seen that frame 14 is removably secured to outer air confining member 12 and is also in rigid attachment with inner air confining member 13 whereby a flow path for air is provided therebetween. Also air directing member 42 being secured to supports 36 is linearly adjustable in vertical position by rotation thereof screws 37 moving along the length of slots 35 and that the adjustment so obtained is in one direction, that is vertical only, thus maintaining the concentric relationship of the members in the diffuser.

Having reference to FIGURE 2, diffuser 11 is illustrated in conjunction with further air controlling means which are air flow rectifier indicated generally as 46 and damper indicated generally as 47.

Air flow rectifier 46 comprises a flanged frame 48 into which is secured support frame 49. A plurality of binge points 50 are provided, in this case being bent from frame 49, to support a number of guide vanes 51 adjustably thereon. In this embodiment vanes 51 are secured to hinge points 50 by means of rivets and since considerable friction occurs at the hinge points then vanes 51 may be adjustably positioned whereafter the same will maintain this position during normal use.

Air flow rectifier 46 is secured to duct 52 which at the lower end thereof is secured to and supports diffuser 11. It will be understood that the length of duct 52 may be varied according to the expected distance between the preferred height of diffuser 11 and the height of the supply duct.

A shaft 53 is rotatably mounted on one vane 51 this being a non-movable vane, and has upper end terminating in flexible screw thread 54. Screw thread 54 is threadably inserted substantially centrally of damper plate 55 which is hinged at 56 along frame 49. Thus upon rotation of shaft 53 damper plate 55 may be caused to move upwardly or downwardly to open or close against frame 48 to vary the amount of air flow therethrough. Also it will be seen that the flow of air through rectifier 46 will be smooth and that direction of the air flow therethrough may be controlled by varying the angle of vanes 51.

With reference to FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4, diffuser 11 is shown diagrammatically and in FIGURE 3 it will be seen that air directing member 42 is in adjustable position close to outer member 12 whereby air flowing downwardly through the device is directed partially above member 42 and partially below. The air which is directed above member 42 will have a comparatively high velocity due to the narrow confines of the space and upon reaching the periphery of outer member 12 will be directed downwardly by lip 57 in an almost vertical direction. On the other hand air passing below member 42 has a somewhat slower velocity and this air moving outwardly and downwardly is confined by the more downwardly projecting stream as mentioned and thus carried downwardly in an almost vertical pattern of comparatively small diameter.

In FIGURE 4, air directing member 42 is at its lowermost position, that is closely adjacent to inner member 13, whereby most of the air passing through diffuser 11 is directed above member 42 and in this case at a somewhat slower velocity than in the previous case as shown in FIGURE 3. For this reason the air passing above member 42 is directed substantially outwardly and downwardly over an increased area. The air passing below member 42 is of a much reduced volume but of high velocity and this air is directed downwardly and outwardly thus aiding in spreading the air pattern over an area having a much greater diameter than that as described in FIGURE 3.

It is of interest to note that frame 14 is composed of thin edge items whereby a very small surfaceof each is presented to the air flowing therethrough which reduces the drag and restriction thereof to increase the efficiency of the diffuser. This is to be especially noted at angles 31 and supports 36 whereby the folds are made in the material to ensure that only the thin edge of the parts V are presented to the air stream.

Also of interest is the fact that vanes 51 are of various lengths so that substantially all of the area of duct 52 is used as air flow space the hinge points being formed out from frame 49 so as not to obstruct air flow. Vanes 51 being hinged along one edge may thus be varied in angle to effectively cover the whole area .of air flow in to diffuser 11.

It will further be seen that angles 31 and supports 36 may be common to different sizes of difiusersas well as finger 25 being common and for this reason only the air confining members 12 and 13 and member 42 need be changed in size for difierent sizes of diffusers. In the case of frame 14 the spokes 15 are made from one type of extruded shape whereby said spokes, although of different sizes for various diffusers, maybe made at great savings in cost. Thus the interchangeability of parts and the use of extrusion methods .of manufacture isachieved.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention comprises an outer and an inner air confining member which provides an air channel into which is adjustably positioned an air directing member, said air directing member-being maintained in axial alignment with the axis of the diffuser and moved axially therealong by means of a frame supporting the inner and outer air defining members and additionally having 1 a screw thread type movement thereon for said adjustmerit.

It is to be understood that although a preferred embodiment of this invention has here been described and illustrated, the invention also contemplates such variations in design and manufacture as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Air difiuser apparatus and comprising:

(a) an annular outer wall forming an air entry port defining a flow path for air;

(b) a support frame having radial arms located in said air entry port within said flow path and fastened in fixed relation thereto;

(c) at least one frusto-conical air flow bafile member oriented to deflect air flowing therearound mounted .on said frame in fixed relation co-axial with said port and defining an air space therebetween;

(d) at least one frusto-conical air director located within said air space between said outer wall and said bafile member and rotatable relative thereto for adjustment thereof;

(e) strut members extending upwardly from said director along axes parallel with said flow path, bearing means located on said strut members;

(i) arcuate guide means fastened to said radial arms of said frame and in fixed relation to said port disposed circumferentially about the central axis of said director and said port and supporting said bearing means for rotation of said director as aforesaid.

2. Air diffuser apparatus and comprising:

(a) an annular outer wall forming an air entry port defining a fiow path for air;

(b) a support frame having radial arms located in said air entry pont within said flow path and fastened in fixed relation thereto;

(0) at least one frusto-conical air flow baflie member oriented to deflect air flowing therearound mounted on said frame in fixed relation co-axial with said port and defining an air space therebetween;

(d) at least one 'frusto-conical air director located within said air space between said outer wall and said baffle member and rotatable relative thereto for adjustment thereof;

(e) strut members extending upwardly from said director along axes parallel to the axis of said flow path, bearing means located on said strut members;

(1) arcuate guide means fastened to said radial arms of said frame in fixed relation to said entry port disposed circumferentially about the central axis of said director and said port andsupporting said bearing means for rotation of said director as aforesaid;

(g) and slide means attached to said strut means and movably connected with said guide means'for sliding rotation in unison with said director.

3. Air diffuser apparatus and comprising:

(a) an annual outer wall forming an air entry port defining a flow path for air;

(b) adjacent frusto conically shaped air confining members, fixed concentrically one within the other and defining a divergent, annular flow path for air therebetween, the outer said member communicating with said air entry port at the apex thereof;

(c) a frusto conically shaped air director member positioned between said air confining members and in constant axial alignment therewith and rotatably adjustable therebetween;

(d) a supporting frame including at least three radially directed sections disposed about their air entry port, and secured to said outer air confining member .in fixed relation to said entry port, said sections defining separate axle air flow paths within said port;

(e) strut members extending upwardly from said director along axes parallel to the central axis of said 0, port; bearing means located on said strut members; (f) and arcuate guide means fastened to said radial sections of said frame and fixed in relation to said entry port radially disposed about the central axis of said director and said port and supporting said bearing means for rotation of said director as aforesaid.

4. Air difi'user apparatus and comprising:

(a) an annual outer Wall forming an air entry port defining a flow path for air;

(b) adjacent frusto conically shaped air confining members, fixed eoncentrally one Within the other and defining a divergent, annular flow path for air therebetween, the outer said member communicating with said air entry port at the apex thereof;

(c) a frusto conically shaped air director member positioned between said air confining members and in constant axial alignment therewith and rotatably adjustable therebetween;

(d) a supporting frame including at least three radially directed sections disposed about said air entry port, and secured to said outer air confining member in fixed relation to said entry port, said sections defining separate axial air fiow paths within said port;

(e) strut members extending from said director;

(f) arcuate guide means fastened to said radial sections of said frame and in fixed relation to said entry port radially disposed about the central axis of said director;

(g) angled slot means formed in said guide means providing a camming action;

(It) slide means attached to said strut members and movably connected within said slot means for sliding rotation in unison with said director.

5. Air diffuser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and including:

(a) an air rectifier frame of annular construction mounted on said annual outer wall in registration with said port in fixed relation to said frame;

(b) and air rectifier vanes extending across and substantially filling said frame parallel to and spaced from one another and being pivotally mounted therein for at least partial rotation about their longitudinal axes to rectify flow of air therethrough.

6. Air diffuser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and ineluding:

(a) air flow rectifier means mounted on said annular outer Wall in registration With said port in fixed relation to said frame for rectifying the flow of air entering said port;

(11) an air damper sWingably attached to said rectifier means for regulating fiow of air therethrough; (c) and flexible cable drive means connected to said damper and extending through said frame for manual operation thereof.

7. Air diffuser apparatus as claimed in claim 1:

wherein said support frame comprises frame sections having a radial arm portion, an arcuate plate segment at one end thereof and arcuate interlock means at the other end thereof, said sections formed of extruded aluminum stock interlocked together to define a frame Within said port.

8. Air diffuser apparatus as claimed in claim 1:

(a) wherein said support frame comprises frame sections having a radial arm portion, an arcuate plate segment at one end thereof and arcuate interlock means at the other end thereof, said sections being formed of extruded aluminum stock interlocked together to define a frame within said port and,

(b) finger means attached to said frame sections for detachably securing said frame in said port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,603,141 Phillips et al. July 15, 1952 2,616,355 McCabe et al. Nov. 4, 1952 2,627,799 Kurth Feb. 10, 1953 2,671,395 De Muth Mar. 9, 1954 3,063,356 Fitt Nov. 13, 1962 

1. AIR DIFFUSER APPARATUS AND COMPRISING: (A) AN ANNULAR OUTER WALL FORMING AN AIR ENTRY PORT DEFINING A FLOW PATH FOR AIR; (B) A SUPPORT FRAME HAVING RADIAL ARMS LOCATED IN SAID AIR ENTRY PORT WITHIN SAID FLOW PATH AND FASTENED IN FIXED RELATION THERETO; (C) AT LEAST ONE FRUSTO-CONICAL AIR FLOW BAFFLE MEMBER ORIENTED TO DEFLECT AIR FLOWING THEREAROUND MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME IN FIXED RELATION CO-AXIAL WITH SAID PORT AND DEFINING AN AIR SPACE THEREBETWEEN; (D) AT LEAST ONE FRUSTO-CONICAL AIR DIRECTOR LOCATED WITHIN SAID AIR SPACE BETWEEN SAID OUTER WALL AND SAID BAFFLE MEMBER AND ROTATABLE RELATIVE THERETO FOR ADJUSTMENT THEREOF; (E) STRUT MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID DIRECTOR ALONG AXES PARALLEL WITH SAID FLOW PATH, BEARING MEANS LOCATED ON SAID STRUT MEMBERS (F) ARCUATE GUIDE MEANS FASTENED TO SAID RADIAL ARMS OF SAID FRAME AND IN FIXED RELATION TO SAID PORT DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID DIRECTOR AND SAID PORT AND SUPPORTING SAID BEARING MEANS FOR ROTATION OF SAID DIRECTOR AS AFORESAID. 